Emily ConronGHTC
Emily is a senior US policy and advocacy officer with GHTC managing congressional outreach, policy development, and legislative analysis to support the US advocacy work of the coalition.
GHTC co-sponsored a congressional briefing on Tuesday organized by the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) in conjunction with the Senate Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases Caucus to highlight the essential role of the US Department of Defense (DoD) in the fight against malaria. Most Americans think of malaria as a disease that only threatens people in far-off nations. But with American military personnel deployed in countries all around the globe, malaria remains an ongoing threat to the health of our servicemembers and, by extension, our military readiness.
In fact, the battle against this parasite has been a persistent feature of US military history. Malaria has affected almost every US military deployment since the American Civil War and has caused more lost person-days than bullets during all military campaigns fought in malaria-endemic regions in the twentieth century. During World War II, General Douglas MacArthur famously complained to Dr. Paul Russell, then the Army's top malaria expert, “Doctor, it's going to be a very long war if for every division I have facing the enemy, I have one sick in hospital and another recovering from this dreadful disease.”
Since World War II, DoD has been a world leader in the research and development (R&D) of new tools to prevent, diagnose, and treat malaria. While these efforts have always been focused foremost on protecting the health and readiness of US servicemembers, they have also benefitted communities around the world.”
For instance, earlier this year, pilot introductions of the world’s first malaria vaccine, RTS,S—which was developed with research support from DoD’s Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR)—were launched in three sub-Saharan African countries. WRAIR remains a leader in malaria vaccine research, in partnership with the Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC), which is co-located on the same research campus and brings unique research capabilities. Amazingly, WRAIR and NMRC have also contributed to the development of every single malaria prevention drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, including all five available today. In 2018, a new single-dose treatment was approved for a strain of malaria that sickens around 8 million people annually—including US servicemembers. This treatment stems from research conducted at DoD and military research centers, research that has also led to the use of this compound as a drug for malaria prevention.
These are just a few of the most recent examples that demonstrate the invaluable impact that DoD research has had on the global fight against malaria. The briefing, held in the Russell Senate Office Building with congressional staff and members of the malaria research and advocacy community in attendance, was a special opportunity to hear from some of the top malaria experts in the US military, including Colonel Deydre Teyhen, commander of WRAIR; Lieutenant Colonel Mara Kreishman-Deitrick, director of Experimental Therapeutics at the WRAIR Center for Infectious Disease Research; Colonel Viseth Nguay, director of the WRAIR Malaria Vaccine Branch; Colonel Philip Smith, director of the WRAIR Center for Enabling Capabilities; and Captain Eileen Villasante, head of the Malaria Department at NMRC.
In her opening remarks, Colonel Teyhen highlighted that, whereas most Americans might think a shark is the most dangerous animal they could encounter, mosquitoes pose a far greater threat. She emphasized that DoD’s investments in malaria R&D are critical as both military strategy and the malaria parasite evolve.
.@wrair COL Teyhen: forget sharks, mosquitoes are what we should really be afraid of! @astmh #mosquitowranglers pic.twitter.com/AlZBM40EjC
— Karen A Goraleski (@goraleskik) September 24, 2019
According to COL Teyhen, commander @WRAIR, as military teams get smaller and more specialized, the health of each team member is vital—this is why enduring biologic solutions against threats like #malaria are critical, and “we’re not there yet.” pic.twitter.com/JeVeLGJhjn
— GHTC (@GHTCoalition) September 24, 2019
@WRAIR and @NavalMedicalRC have led the research charge against #malaria 🦟 with astounding progress. But with malaria always evolving, investment in new #globalhealth technologies are always needed. @ASTMH pic.twitter.com/nkTfsj0MBz
— GHTC (@GHTCoalition) September 24, 2019
Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) stopped by after Colonel Teyhen spoke to share his deep personal commitment to the fight against malaria and commend DoD for its important work. He also received a fashionable malaria-themed tie.
So pleased to have @ChrisCoonsforDE at @astmh senate briefing in DoD work in malaria. TY Sen Coons and @SenatorWicker for your deep and personal commitment to end the scourge of malaria and NTDs. #malariadelendaest pic.twitter.com/wsffksQxpS
— Karen A Goraleski (@goraleskik) September 24, 2019
What was once unthinkable is now a common goal that we are working together to achieve. I plan to continue to fight every step of the way as we seek to achieve Alan Magill’s bold vision of a world without malaria.
— Senator Chris Coons (@ChrisCoons) September 24, 2019
"There is very little that would make a more lasting impact than eradicating malaria." @ChrisCoons at @ASTMH briefing on work of @DeptofDefense in the fight against #malaria. Thank you, @WRAIR, & @DTeyhen for your leadership in protecting our service members deployed globally. pic.twitter.com/xgGGzJnf5K
— Nothing But Nets (@nothingbutnets) September 24, 2019
.@astmh Pres-elect Joel Breman takes off his malaria tie and gifts it to @ChrisCoons. Fashion meets science meets a Senator. pic.twitter.com/ETx713JK74
— Karen A Goraleski (@goraleskik) September 24, 2019
After Senator Coons’ remarks, the panel continued with an overview of DoD’s prolific contributions to malaria R&D, sharing more fascinating facts and insights.
Did you know investments by @WRAIR in #malaria #research has generated over 3,000 biomedical publications, making it one of the top four US contributors to #malaria #research — @ASTMH briefing
— GHTC (@GHTCoalition) September 24, 2019
According to Dr. Eileen Villasante, head of malaria research @NavalMedicalRC, the #malaria parasite is not only outsmarting 💊 but also diagnostics. More 🔬 is needed — @ASTMH briefing
— GHTC (@GHTCoalition) September 24, 2019
The briefing was an excellent opportunity for congressional staff, researchers, and advocates to gather, learn, and discuss DoD’s historic role in malaria R&D and the opportunities for continued US leadership in this area of vital importance for our troops and communities around the world.